Text Hash
Compute the digital hash of any text with MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256. Everything is processed in your browser: the text never leaves your device.
Message
MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256 hashes
How to use: Hash
- 1Type or paste the text.
- 2Instantly see its MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256 hashes.
- 3Copy the hash you need to compare or store it.
What is it for?
- Verify a file or text hasn't changed by comparing hashes.
- Generate cache keys or deterministic identifiers.
- Debug integrations that sign or compare hashes.
What a hash is and which one to choose
What a hash function does
A hash function turns text of any length into a fixed-size fingerprint. The same text always produces the same hash, but changing a single character changes the result completely, and there is no practical way to recover the original text from the fingerprint. That is why hashes are used to check integrity, not to hide information you will need to read later.
MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256: the real differences
MD5 (128 bits) and SHA-1 (160 bits) have known collisions: it is possible to craft two different inputs with the same hash, so they are not suitable for signatures or security. They are still fine as a quick checksum to detect accidental corruption or as a cache key. SHA-256 (256 bits) belongs to the SHA-2 family, has no known practical attacks and is the default choice for verifying downloads, signing data or building content identifiers.
What a hash is NOT
A hash is not encryption: there is no key and it cannot be reversed. It is also not enough to store passwords: MD5 and SHA-256 are so fast that billions of guesses per second are feasible. For passwords use slow, salted algorithms such as bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2. If you need to authenticate a message with a secret key, use HMAC instead of concatenating the key to the text.
Verifying a downloaded file
Many projects publish the SHA-256 of their installers. Hash what you downloaded and compare it character by character with the published value: if they match, the file was not corrupted or altered on the way. This tool works on text and runs in your browser, so what you type is never sent to a server.
Related tools
Related articles
Frequently asked questions
Is my text sent to a server?+
No. All processing happens locally in your browser via Web Crypto.
What's the difference between MD5 and SHA-256?+
SHA-256 is cryptographically stronger. MD5 is faster but vulnerable to collisions.